Combination fence tool



March 9, 1943. FElGlON I 2,313,530

COMBINATION FENCE TOOL Original Filed Jan. 11, 19:53

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 QFFICE COMBINATION FENCE TOOL Herman D. Feigicn, York, Nebr.

Substitute for abandoned application Serial No.

651,200, January 11, 1933.

This application October 2'7, 1941, Serial No. 416,729

1 Claim.

My invention relates to combination tools, and is more especially an improvement in tools or implements of this general character adapted for use in the construction of wire fences, being a substitute for the abandoned application filed by me January 11, 1933, Serial No. 651,200.

I have in view the provision of a strong, durable and efficient combination tool possessing features of construction permitting it to be used for various purposes in putting up a wire fence; that is to say, the tool or implement constructed in accordance with my invention contemplates means for stretching the wires between the fence posts and for splicing or connecting ends of the wires together, in addition to the means usually provided in a tool of this kind for driving staples in fastening the wire strands to the fence posts, for pulling or loosening staples in tightening the wires, and for cutting the wire strands.

My invention therefore consists, primarily, in providing one of the jaws of a pair of pliers with a spool-shape reel projecting laterally therefrom for use in stretching the wires between the posts and splicing the ends, in association with a hammer head projecting from the other jaw, as well as other features of construction to facilitate the work of putting up a wire fence-the particular construction of the spool-shape reel cooperating with the jaws of the pliers to hold the ends of the wires during the operation of stretching and splicing, as hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification:

Figure l is a side view of a combination tool constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of the two separated rnembers comprising the tool or implement.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental side view, to show the wedge-shape notches in the outer end of the spool-shape reel.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bolt for pivotally connecting the two members together, and

Fig. '7 is a view illustrating the operation of the tool in splicing the ends of wires.

My invention or improvement is included in a tool or implement having the general appearance of a pair of pliers comprising members Hi and I I connected together by a pivot pin or bolt [2, with handles I3, Hi extending from widened portions l5, 16 forming the gripping jaws; it being noted by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that each widened portion surrounding the bolt holes 11,

Pill-121) l8 provides bearing surfaces, and that as usual in the construction of ordinary pliers the jaws are extended laterally'with respect to each other to provide complementary jaws of equal width. Furthermore, to provide for cutting wire, notches l9, H] are located adjacent the inner ends of the meeting faces of the jaws, and the meeting faces formed with transverse grooves 20, 2! and 22 which register with each other, respectively, and are of different depths for gripping wires of different gaugesthe outer or deeper grooves 20 connecting with spaced apart grooves 23, 23 in the ends of the jaws for gripping the legs and crosspiece of a staple for pulling the same after it is loosened by the pointed end 24 of the member II of the pliers or combination tool.

The too-l or implement is also provided with a hammer head 25 formed integrally with one of the jaws to project from the outer side thereof, and in carrying out my invention the other jaw is provided with wire twisting means usable in stretching wires in constructing a fence and for splicing the ends of the wires, consisting in this instance of a spool including a spindle 26 and spaced apart circular heads 21, 21, with a lug 28 beyond the outer head, and for holding the end of one of the wires this head is provided with a wedge shape notch 29 extending tangentially from the periphery thereof, the end of the other wire being held between the gripping jaws of the tool. Two notches are formed in the head of the spool and extend in opposite directions for holding the end of the wire engaged thereby according to the direction the tool is turned in the operation of stretching the wires or forming a splice in the manner hereinafter described.

The members of the tool or implement are preferably pivotally connected by means of that type of bolt illustrated in Fig. 6, having a shoulder 39 extending from the head and received in the hole I! of member is, and a terminal portion beyond said shoulder tobe received in hole is of member i I, the nut 32 being threaded on the outer end of the terminal portion, and for holding the jaws closed while the tool is being manipulated a link 33 is pivoted to near the outer end of handle 24 for engagement with the end of the other or shorter handle 13.

The outer end of handle I4 is pointed, as hereinbefore mentioned, so that it may be used for prying a staple loose when it is desired to remove it from the fence post, or merely loosening it in tightening the fence wires should they sag between the posts after the fence has been in use.

In the operation of the combination tool or implement, the strand of wire to be stretched between the fence posts-in the construction of a fence-is engaged in the notch in the outer head of the spool and either the hammer head or spool placed in engagement with the far side of the fence post from which the operation is being performed so that the post will form a bearing for the tool, whereby when the spool is turned by manipulating the tool the wire will be wound thereon. Prior to this operation a staple is driven over the wire into the fence post to impinge slightly against the wire, so that when the wire is drawn taut it can be securely held by driving the staple tightly against the same. For splicing the ends of wire strands between fence posts the terminal portion of one of the wires, a is formed into a loop with the loose end gripped between the jaws of the pliers, and the end of the other wire, b, is passed through the loop and engaged in one of the notches in the head of the spool (Fig. 2), and as the tool is turned it will wind the wires on the spool to stretch them before the splice is formed by swinging the tool around wire a to twist the end of wire b on itself, as illustrated in Fig. 7. After the splice has been completed the ends of the wires beyond the splice are disengaged from the spool and gripping jaws and clipped close to the splice by means of the cutting edges at the inner ends of the jaws.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that my improved combination tool is especially adapted for use in constructing wire fences by providing means for stretching the wires, splicing the ends together and cutting the loose ends, as well as providing means for driving and removing staples-the means for stretching and splicing performing the functions by a continuous operation.

I claim:

A combination tool for connecting the ends of wires in the construction of fences, comprising a pair of pliers for holding an end of the terminal loop of one of the wires, a. spindle fixed to and projecting from one of the jaws of the pliers at right angles thereto, and spaced apart circular heads on the spindle with a slot in one of the heads for holding an end of the terminal interengaging loop of the other wire, the spaced apart heads cooperating with the pliers and spindle in twisting the connected terminal loops on each other respectively as the tool is swung around the same with the heads bearing on the wires.

HERMAN D. FEIGION. 

